midfield, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out
led, not fluent 1st, soon headed, midfield 6th, in touch approaching 4 out, held when fell next
midfield, outpaced briefly before 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on well to challenge after last, always held by winner
led after 1st, headed before 7th, joined leader briefly 15th, ridden before 3 out, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway 15th, pushed along before 4 out, struggling when hampered next
towards rear, not fluent 11th, struggling 15th, pulled up 4 out
prominent, dropped to midfield before 2nd, dropped to rear 9th, pulled up before 11th
ran in snatches, held up in rear, tailed off 4 out
chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakened before 2 out
prominent, lost place 13th, ridden next, pulled up 4 out
chased leaders, led before 7th, joined briefly 15th, pushed along before 3 out, pecked next, joined run-in, stayed on well
NonRunner
Top Ville Ben won this in 2019 and was third last year when 6lb higher in the weights. He is something of a course specialist but isn’t getting any younger. Aye Right’s bid to win the Rehearsal Chase last month for the second year running was disappointing but he’s a useful handicapper on his day, though was beaten by Sounds Russian at Kelso in October. Into Overdrive and Windsor Avenue were second and fourth respectively in the Rehearsal while Chantry House and Shan Blue finished 1-2 in a Grade 1 at Aintree in 2021, though both have had their problems since. ZANZA has been unconvincing when tried over 3m in the past but won easily over an extended 2m6f at Newbury last time and seems to be more relaxed nowadays. He also has form around here and might still be on a decent mark. Fanion D'Estruval was given far too much to do over 3m2f at Newbury last month and Lucy Turner should have him closer to the pace here and he does have a touch of class.
Fanion D'estruval (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Never going well and well behind, tailed off until some late minor headway, never going pace to get involved, 7th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Le Milos (11-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Chantry House (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Dec.
Sounds Russian (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up behind leaders, not fluent 11th, jumped left and 3rd 2 out, outpaced before last, kept on flat, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Noble Yeats (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Dec.
Aye Right (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent and headed 5th, pushed along and mistake 14th, pulled up before 4 out, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Kalashnikov (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, headway 11th, driven into 2nd after 3 out, never got near winner, lost 2nd after last, no extra and soon dropped to 4th, 4th of 11, 18 1/2l behind Allaho (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Mar.
Sporting John (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Held up behind leaders, ridden after 3 out, unable to pick up, well held from 2 out, 4th of 6, 16 1/4l behind Proschema (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Oct.
Shan Blue (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 8th, went 2nd 15th, led after 3 out, pressed 2 out, soon headed, well held by winner last, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Sam Brown (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Zanza (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Raced in mid-division, ridden and steady headway before 3 out, went 2nd next, led between last two, soon quickened readily clear, easily, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Demachine (12-0) by 12l, 10 ran.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 14-1 (12-1) Chased leaders on inside, led 3rd, ridden before last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, weakened into 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Lynwood Gold (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Windsor Avenue (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, bumped 2nd, mistake 3rd, ridden before 4 out, no impression run-in, 4th of 9, 6 1/4l behind L'Homme Presse (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Into Overdrive 7-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, bumped 2nd, led 9th, headed 11th, briefly regained lead 12th, headed 14th, ridden 4 out, stayed on for 2nd approaching last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 9, 1l behind L'Homme Presse (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Off the pace and always towards rear, never in the race, 11th of 15, 34 3/4l behind Le Milos (11-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
